Wire-stretcher.



C. S. HU TSCH.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION man n.9, m1.

1,235,141. PatentedJuly 31,1917.

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WIRE STRETCHER. APPLICATION HLEDMAR. 9, 19H.

1 ,235, 141. Patented July 31, 1917.

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CHARLES S. HUTSCH, OF EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS.

WIRE-STRETOHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1917.

Application filed March 9, 1917. Serial No. 153,715.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. Hurson, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at East St. Louis, in the county of St. Clair and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wire- Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to an improved wire stretcher designed especially for use in constructing wire fences and particularly for stretching the wire ahead of the prior or preceding post. The device is designed to be attached to a post and is adjustable so that it may be quickly adapted for different sized posts, and attached and detached with quickness and despatch.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed and arranged according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention, and this device has already proven highly successful in actual use.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the wire stretcher according to my invention, shown attached to a post and ready for use.

Fig. 2 is an edge elevation of the device as seen from the near side in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an edge elevation of the stretcher as seen from the far side in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View on line H of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view of the threaded draw rod and accessories.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated the device as made up of different pieces or shapes of materials, but it will be understood that I contemplate having the parts of the frame cast to proper form and shapes and other changes or alterations may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in my appended claims.

The frame is somewhat of an L-shape being made up of two portions indicated as A and B, of which the A member comprises a metallic base plate 1 adapted to rest against the post marked or indicated at P in Fig. 1. This base plate is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed perforated and threaded wings 2, 2, to accommodate the set screws {3, 3, which are employed to co-act in attaching the device to the post, their threads of course, permitting them to be adjusted with relation to the base plate for different sized or shaped posts. By means of the rivets 4 a channel iron 5 is fixed to the base plate and a slot 6 is provided in the arm A of the frame extending through the channel iron and base plate. Within this slot 6 the threaded bar 7 is adapted to be moved, and by means of the nut 8 on the bar, the hook 9 at the opposite end of the bar may be clamped to the periphery of the post as inclicated in Fig. 1. This bar 7 with its hooked end is supported in a slide bracket 10 formed with a tubular guide portion 11 for the bar, and the bracket has grooved guide flanges 12, 12 adapted to slide on the guide flanges 13 0f the channel iron 5. A frictionsleeve l5 and washer 16 are interposed between the nut 8 and channel plate so that the hooked bar may be securely clamped between the nut and the post, and to adjust the hook to clifferent sized posts, it will be evident that the slide bracket may be adjusted on the base plate or arm A of the frame within the limits of the slot 6.

The stretching of the wire is accomplished through the action of a threaded draw rod 14: which is supported in the arm B of the frame and is fashioned with, a threaded stud 15 for a purpose to be described. On the threaded arm or end of the rod 1 1 a bevel pinion 16, having an integral hub 17, is placed, and this hub acts as a nut which is held stationary and the rod 14 is drawn through the threaded nut 17 as the bevel pinion 16 is turned or revolved. At the opposite end of the draw rod the wire gripping or holding tool is attached, and for this purpose the rod is provided with a socket head 18 in which the tool shank 19 is seated and held by a bolt 20 and cotter pin 21. The body 22 of the gripping tool has an eccentric or cam 23 pivoted thereto at 24 and this eccentric may be turned by means of the lever 24 to grip the wire 25 between the eccentric and the anvil 26 of the tool. If necessary the eccentric or cam may be corrugated or formed with teeth in its periphery to secure a firmer grip on the wire, but of course the teeth should not be sharp enough to mar or harm the wire.

The nut 17 and pinion 16 of the draw rod 14 are supported in the frame arm B by idespatch when in use.

means of the angle bracket or head 27 at the end of the frame, and a bevel pinion 28 with its stud shaft 29 also journaled in this bracket is turned by means of the crankhandle 30 to revolve the pinion 16 and nut 17, and a collar 17 (Fig. 3) may be employed to hold the sleeve nut 17 in its bracket. It will readily be seen that when the crank handle is turned the draw rod will be pulled to the right in Figs. 1 and 2, or to the left in Fig. 3, and the movement of the rod is guided by means of the slotted guide plate 31 through whose slot 30 the threaded stud projects and the nut 32 and washers 3333 guide the movement of the rod as will be readily understood.

From the above description taken in connection with my drawings it is evident that I have provided a device which is simple both in construction and operation, durable, and eflicient in performing the functions for which it is intended. It will be seen that the device is attached to and supported on the post by four points of attachment 2'. e.

. the hook 9, the bracket 10, the base plate 1 and the set screws 8, so that when the nut' 8 is turned home to clamp the hook in the post, the device is securely and rigidly attached'to the post and held there in such manner as to withstand the strain occasioned by stretchingthe wire. The action of the wire grip and stretching operation will be readily understood and the device may be readily handled with quickness and The wire is first pulled-by hand so that it is comparatively taut and then clamped in the gripping device or wire holder which is of course at its extreme position as permitted by the limits of the guide slot The crank handle is then turned and the bevel gears cause the draw rod to move steadily to the left in Fig. 3 thus drawing the wire tight and stretching it past the post, and a second holder may be used to retain the wire, should a second or thirdpullbe required, while a subsequent grip is being secured on the wire by the gripping tool.

What I claim is 1. The combination in a wire stretcher with means for attachment to a post and'a frame, of a threaded draw rod, a sleeve nut for said rod supported in the frame and a bevel gear on the sleeve, means for turning the gear, said frame formed with an elongated slot and the rodfformedwith a threaded stud traveling in the slot, friction washers and a nut on the thre'ade'dstud, and a detachable gripping tool carried by the'rod.

2. The combination with the frame of a wire stretcher having a'slotted base plate, of a threaded bar passed through'said slot and formed with an'end attaching hook, a slidable bracket on the frame with a tubular support for the hooked end of the bar, a friction sleeve on the bar, and a wheel-nut on the threaded bar for clamping the bracket in adjusted position;

In testimony whereof I aflix' my signature.

CHARLES" S. HUTSCH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained forfivecents each; by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

